Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/08—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia using both translucent and non-translucent layers
  • G09F13/10—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia using both translucent and non-translucent layers using transparencies
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
  • G02B3/0006—Arrays
  • G02B3/0037—Arrays characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
  • G02B3/005—Arrays characterized by the distribution or form of lenses arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/02—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
  • G02B5/0205—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties
  • G02B5/021—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties the diffusion taking place at the element's surface, e.g. by means of surface roughening or microprismatic structures
  • G02B5/0226—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties the diffusion taking place at the element's surface, e.g. by means of surface roughening or microprismatic structures having particles on the surface
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
  • G09F13/0422—Reflectors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/14—Arrangements of reflectors therein
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/16—Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
  • G09F13/0486—Neon tubes
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/14—Arrangements of reflectors therein
  • G09F2013/142—Arrangements of reflectors therein multiple reflectors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/14—Arrangements of reflectors therein
  • G09F2013/147—Arrangements of reflectors therein plane reflectors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/20—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts
  • G09F13/22—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts electroluminescent
  • G09F2013/222—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts electroluminescent with LEDs
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining

Definitions

• a first type is surface-painted signs which are illuminated by external light sources, such as floodlights, which are generally located at acute angles to the sign. Light energy is wasted since, a) the entire sign surface is illuminated (not just the message), and b) a great percentage of the light reflected never reaches the observer either being spilled off to the sky or ground.
• a second type of illuminated sign is a lighted box sign where a light source is placed behind a translucent surface (that can provide structural support for the sign) with the message spelled out on the translucent surface, in characters contrasting to the translucent surface background.
• Light energy is produced to provide equal luminous emission over the face of the sign, including the background, as opposed to lighting only the character which has to be seen. Only a small fraction of the light produced reaches the eye of the observer, as the light exits the sign in all directions including upwards, thus wasting energy and causing a considerable amount of light pollution.
• a third type of illuminated sign includes signs including light sources which themselves spell out the sign message.
• Neon signs, exposed incandescent filament lamp signs and channel letters are examples of this technology. When not lit, these signs are not readily visible (unless paint is applied under the character or symbol) and are thus dependent on being illuminated to deliver the message. These signs are costly to make, operate and maintain as they are custom made for the client, of limited life span, fragile and the incandescent version is energy wasteful.
• a fourth type of illuminated sign includes an LED matrix sign.
• LED technology is taken advantage of to create changing-message signs.
• These dynamic message signs are computer-controlled and provide interesting and attention-grabbing signs which are a solution to illuminated signs with the need for a changing message.
• most illuminated signs are of a fixed message, and these signs are initially expensive and costly to operate and maintain.
• the present disclosure relates to light directing composite films for energy efficient illuminated signs.
• the present disclosure relates to light directing composite films for signage that preferentially direct light toward a viewer.
• a light directing composite film includes a planar top major surface, a planar bottom major surface, a plurality of lenticular lens elements disposed between the top major surface and the bottom major surface, and a plurality of light reflection regions and light transmission regions disposed between the plurality of lenticular lens and the planar bottom major surface.
• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective schematic diagram of an illustrative illuminated sign including the light directing composite film described herein;
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an illustrative light directing composite film
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another illustrative light directing composite film.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an illustrative light directing composite film coupled to a transparent graphic substrate.
• the figures are not necessarily to scale.
• Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number.
• spatially related terms including but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “lower,” “upper,” “beneath,” “below,” “above,” and “on top,” if used herein, are utilized for ease of description to describe spatial relationships of an element(s) to another.
• Such spatially related terms encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the particular orientations depicted in the figures and described herein. For example, if a cell depicted in the figures is turned over or flipped over, portions previously described as below or beneath other elements would then be above those other elements.
• the present disclosure relates to light directing composite films for energy efficient illuminated signs.
• the present disclosure relates to light directing composite films for signage that preferentially direct light toward a viewer.
• the light directing composite films includes light transmission windows that are registered with lenticular collimating lenses and light reflection areas between the light transmission windows.
• the angular distribution of the light exiting the illuminated sign is determined by the geometry of the lens and the size and position of the light transmission windows with respect to the focal point of the lens.
• Light that strikes the interior surface of the light collimating substrate between the light transmission windows is substantially reflected and recycled within the illuminated sign enclosure until it strikes a surface of a light transmission window and is transmitted through the light collimating substrate.
• the light emitted by the illuminated sign conforms to a controlled angular distribution of brightness.
• These illuminated signs exhibit diminished brightness where illumination is not desired (e.g., reduced "light pollution"), increased brightness where illumination is desired (e.g., to a viewer of the sign), and'Or enhanced spatial uniformity of emission. While the present disclosure is not so limited, an appreciation of various aspects of the disclosure will be gained through a discussion of the examples provided below.
• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective schematic diagram of an illustrative illuminated sign 10.
• the illuminated sign 10 includes an enclosure 30 and a light source 40 disposed within the enclosure 30.
• the enclosure 30 includes a light reflection surface 32, 33 and a light emission surface 34.
• the enclosure 30 forms a light box having side surfaces 33 and a back surface 32.
• the back surface is fully reflective.
• the back surface 32 includes a second light emission surface that is of similar construction of the light emission surface 34, forming a double- sided illuminated sign.
• a light directing composite film 20 can form at least a portion of the light emission surface 34.
• the light directing composite film 20 is described below and can include light transparent substrate 50 forming a planar top surface.
• the light reflection surface 32, 33 can be formed of any useful light reflection material and can be highly efficient to maximize light efficiency. In many embodiments the light reflection surface 32, 33 are at least 90% efficient or at least 95% efficient. In some embodiments, the light reflection surface 32, 33 can be a reflective or mirror film. One commercially available reflective film is available under the trade designation Light Enhancement Film 3635-100 from 3M Company, St. Paul, MN. The light reflection surface 32, 33 can be diffusely reflective or specularly reflective. Diffusely reflective surfaces can include white paint or a material that includes TiC particles. The light reflection surface 32, 33 can be formed by applying a light reflection material layer by flooding the grooved surface with the reflective coating material and metering off excess reflective coating material, resulting in grooves filled with reflective coating material and exposed light transmission regions.
• the light source 40 can be any useful light source 40.
• the light source 40 is fluorescent tubes.
• the light source 40 is solid state devices such as light emitting diodes, for example. When fluorescent tubes are utilized, the fluorescent tubes can run in any orientation within the enclosure.
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an illustrative light directing composite film 20.
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of another illustrative light directing composite film 20.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an illustrative light directing composite film 20 coupled to a transparent graphic substrate 70.
• the light directing composite film 20 can emit light from the enclosure 30 or light emission surface 34 at an angle of less than 90 degrees from the planar top major surface 21 or light emission surface 34, thus the emitted light can be directed "downward" from normal and toward a viewer on a ground looking up at an illuminated sign.
• a light directing substrate or composite film 20 forms at least a portion of the light emission surface 34 of the illustrative illuminated sign 10 illustrative illuminated sign 10 of FIG. 1.
• the light directing composite film 20 can form a portion of a structural element (front or back surface of the illuminated sign 10, for example).
• the light directing composite film 20 includes a back major surface 23 forming a portion of an inner surface of the enclosure 30.
• the back major surface 23 includes light reflection regions 26 and light transmission regions 27.
• the light reflection regions 26 can separate the light transmission regions 27.
• a front or top major surface 21 opposes the back bottom major surface 23.
• the front or top major surface 21 includes a plurality of lenticular lens elements 22.
• the light transmission regions 27 can be arranged to be at or near the focus points of the lenticular lens elements 22 and the light reflection regions 26 can occupy the remaining area of the back major surface 25.
• the lenticular lens elements 22 can be linear lenticular lens elements 22 and the light reflection regions 26 and light transmission regions 27 can be co-extensive linear elements that extend parallel to the linear lenticular lens elements 22.
• the lenticular lens elements 22 are linear lenticular lens elements 22 that are co-extensive across a length of the light directing substrate, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an illustrative light directing composite film 20.
• the light directing composite film 20 includes lenticular lens elements 22 and light transmission regions 27 aligned or registered at or near a focal point of a corresponding lenticular lens element 22 and a light transparent substrate 50 is disposed adjacent to the lenticular lens elements 22.
• Light reflection regions 26 can occupy the remaining area separating the light transmission regions 27.
• the light reflection regions 26 can be formed of any useful light reflection (diffuse or specular) material.
• the light reflection regions 26 are at least 90% efficient or at least 95% efficient.
• the light reflection regions 26 can be a reflective or mirror film.
• the light reflection regions 26 can be diffusely reflective or specularly reflective. Diffusely reflective surfaces can include white paint or a material that includes Ti0 2 particles.
• the light directing composite film 20 can have any useful thickness T. In many embodiments the light directing composite film 20 can form a front stmctural element of the illuminated sign. In these embodiments the light directing composite film 20 has a thickness T of 200 to 1000 micrometers or greater or from 200 to 400 micrometers.
• the lenticular lens elements 22 can have any useful lens width W. In many embodiments the lenticular lens elements 22 have a lens width W of 100 to 200 micrometers.
• the light directing composite film 20 can be formed of any useful light transmissive material.
• FIG. 3 is a light directing composite film 20 that includes post elements 29 that extends or projects from the lenticular lens elements 22.
• the post elements 29 help to form the air gap 24 between the lenticular lens elements 22 and a light transparent substrate 50.
• the light transparent substrate 50 can be fixed or adhered to the post elements 29 of the lenticular lens elements 22 with by any useful manner.
• the air gap 24 separates at least a portion of the lenticular lens elements 22 from the light transparent substrate 50.
• an adhesive layer 54, 52 is disposed on one or both sides of the transparent substrate 50.
• the adhesive layer 54, 52 can be any useful adhesive material such as, a pressure sensitive adhesive, for example.
• a release layer (not shown) can be disposed on the adhesive layer 52 to protect the adhesive layer until it is ready to be exposed by a user and applied to a front light transparent substrate 70.
• the release liner layer is configured to be removed and expose the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 52.
• a graphic image (e.g., a solid color or multicolored image) can be disposed at any useful location within or adjacent to the front light transparent substrate 70.
• the light reflection regions 26 reflect light both back into the enclosure 30 and reflect light from outside the enclosure back through the front major surface 34.
• the graphic image 71 can be seen by a viewer when the sign is illuminated from within the enclosure 30 and when illuminated by exterior light (such as daylight for example) incident on the sign 10.
• the light directing composite film 20 includes a microreplicated film 25 fixed to a light transparent substrate 50.
• the resulting hght directing composite film 20 includes a planar top major surface 21, a planar bottom major surface 23, a plurality of lenticular lens elements 22 disposed between the top major surface 21 and the bottom major surface 23, and a plurality of light reflection regions 26 and light transmission regions 27 are disposed between the plurality of lenticular lens 22 and the planar bottom major surface 23.
• the light directing composite film 20 planar bottom major surface 23 includes a light diffuser layer 60.
• the light diffuser layer 60 can be formed of any useful material and can function to diffuse light an to assist in "hiding" point light sources illuminating the light directing composite film 20 in the enclosure 30 of the illuminated sign 10.
• the light diffuser layer 60 can be fixed to the light directing composite film 20 in any useful manner such as, an adhesive layer, for example.
• the light directing composite film 20 can be designed to have any useful dimensions and formed in any useful manner.
• a plurality of lenticular lens elements 22 are microreplicated or formed on a substrate 28 first major surface and a plurality of light light transmission regions 27 are microreplicated or formed on an opposing second major surface of the substrate 28.
• the lenticular lens elements 22 and the light transmission regions 27 are formed at the same time and are registered.
• Exemplary dimensions of this article include linear lenticular lens elements 22 having a width in a range from 100 to 250 micrometers, a height in a range from 20 to 60 micrometers, and a post element 29 height of 20 to 30 micrometers and a post element 29 width of 20 to 50 micrometers.
• the substrate 28 can be any useful light transmissive material (e.g., polyethylene terephtalate) having any useful thickness such as 50 to 200 micrometers, for example.
• the light transmission regions 27 can have a width in a range from 25 to 75 micrometers and a height from 50 to 200 micrometers.
• the light transmission regions 27 can be any useful light transmissive material (e.g., acrylate) and define a channel between adjacent light transmission regions 27.
• a light reflective material can be disposed in the channel between adjacent light transmission regions 27 to form the light reflection regions 26.
• the light reflection regions 26 can be formed of any useful light reflective material that has a light reflection of 80% or greater, or 85% or greater, or 90% or greater, or 95% or greater.
• One commercially available reflective material is available under the trade designation Light Enhancement Film from 3M Company, St. Paul, MN.
• the reflective material includes white paint or a material that includes ⁇ (3 ⁇ 4 particles.
• the light reflective regions 26 can have a width in a range from 50 to 200 micrometers or from 75 to 150 micrometers and a height from 50 to 200 micrometers.
• a light transparent substrate 50 can be disposed on the plurality of lenticular lens elements

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Geometry (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
• Planar Illumination Modules (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=44227132

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (33)

• 2010
  • 2010-12-28 US US13/519,364 patent/US9039245B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-12-28 KR KR1020127019848A patent/KR101840482B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-12-28 CN CN201080060255.7A patent/CN102687186B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-12-28 JP JP2012547224A patent/JP2013516648A/ja active Pending
  • 2010-12-28 WO PCT/US2010/062171 patent/WO2011082140A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-12-28 EP EP10841623.1A patent/EP2519941A4/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2016
  • 2016-08-03 JP JP2016152570A patent/JP6749170B2/ja active Active
• 2018
  • 2018-12-14 JP JP2018234544A patent/JP2019045878A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (2)

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